What does your school show?

I pose the question because this week we found out what a wonderful summer school program the Kennett School District has. This is where Colton and Whitney have been attending summer school. Last week Colton came home telling me that they were watching Pursuit of Happiness, which I know is PG-13. He is 11 and it is a show I hadn't planned to let him watch until he was much older. (I don't really think PG-13 is very good for many teens.) Anyhow, I told Colton and Whitney that if they show a movie to please ask the teacher what the rating is and if it is PG-13 that the are not to watch it and need to tell me. Whitney came home Tuesday and said she had to sit in the corner and read a book during the movie her class watched because it was PG-13. She had asked her teacher what the rating was and told her she couldn't watch PG-13. (BRAVO to my daughter for being so brave!!!!) The teacher told her she didn't know what the rating was so she'd just have to sit in the corner and read a book. AAGGHHHHHH! I was so mad that the teacher would make no effort to find out the rating (Fantastic Four 2005 - PG-13), And that she would punish my daughter by making her go to this little alcove in the corner of the class and read while the rest of the class watched the movie. I called the school and of course, the principal was gone for the day.

Wed. we headed up to St. Louis to the Dr. for Luke's Diabetes check-up. He has done better this quarter! A1C is at 8.4 we are very pleased with his progress. Back to the story. So on the way up to St. Louis I called the principal. I Asked her what the school policy was for movies. She said that teachers could show G or PG movies but that she leaves it to the discretion of the teacher. I was furious, because she started to defend the teachers actions when I relayed the events. She felt it was appropriate for the teacher to send the student to another class during the film if they couldn't watch it. (that would be fine if it had to do with some religious beliefs, but she didn't send her to another class, she made her sit alone. Second she showed an inappropriate age movie to 8 & 9 year olds, without parent approval.) The principal couldn't see that it was that big of a deal, which made me more mad. She insisted that they hardly ever show a movie, which is not true, a friend of mine has a daughter who had that teacher last year and she said they put a movie in every time the kids couldn't go outside due to weather or whatever. The principal didn't apologize for having this happen at school. She didn't offer any solutions or indicate that she would enforce the school policy or anything. Finally she said she would talk to the teacher. Well, the teacher was less than nice to Whitney the next day when she put in another movie, telling her in an annoyed tone that the movie isn't PG-13 in front of the whole class. I was afraid she'd take it out on her. I almost went to the school Thurs. but felt that it would have been less effective with the attitude the principal had. We called the School Superintendent and Jason & I met with him Friday (the last day of summer school.)

I organized my notes and printed ratings for the shows that had been view at school both middle school and the elementary. I was so nervous so I said a lot of prayers. Thankfully it went very well. He was shocked that any pg-13 movies had been show at all in either school and the principals hadn't stopped it. He was mad that the teacher singled Whitney out in front of the class. The teachers are suppose to fill out a movie request form and it is suppose to be approved by the principal before showing a film. Obviously that hasn't been happening or it would have been caught before it was ever shown. He was very sorry it happened and was going to set up a meeting with the principal and then review the movie guidelines with the all of the teachers at their summer meeting to make sure that follow the procedures for such things this coming year. Also, He also said he would get back to us after his meeting. I felt really good about it and hopefully things will shape up for a while. The teachers have just gotten lax in preparing activities to fill the teaching gaps. We actually do not belong to the Kennett School District but we will have to do this all over at our district this year because they too have gotten lax with the policy, letting kids bring movies from home and such. It seems to be more of a problem with the younger teachers. The Superintendent agreed with us that things have gotten too lax. I pointed out that the student code of conduct would never tolerate the things spoken or viewed or worn in those types of movies and it is a double standard to expect the students to act one way, yet show something contrary when they are at school. I hope it will be better, but we shall see. It's a small town...I guess I should check out topix to see if my name is now being smeared all over the gossip section. Oh well, life goes on.

I love my man...

I have to tell you how funny Jason is. I was gone much of Mon. and so he took care of many of the household chores. He cleaned up dishes, had kids do their chores, washed laundry and laundry and laundry. I was very proud of him and thankful. Last night I was talking to him about something when a comercial for spray & wash came on. He commented that he liked the way it smelled. (we have some in a large bottle). I commented about how it's great, except you still have to use your reg. laundry soap too. He looked surprised, apparently he didn't read the directions and used it on all that laundry he had done monday without adding any detergent! All I could do was laugh. It reminded me of when my bro in law washed the dishes in the dishwasher and put in dish soap cause they were out of dishwashing liquid. Soap was flowing out of the dishwasher and covered the floor. How do you not laugh at that? Gotta love those innocent mistakes:)

Cake, cake and more cake...

It has been a busy week. Two cakes in a row. I'd done a candy train for Jason's work a few years ago and so a lady from work asked if I do one for her nephews birthday. It does take a lot of time but it still turned out alright. Last time I didn't use Kit Kat for the railroad ties and so I discovered a new problem, the cake would sag in between the ties. I ended up breaking another Kit Kat piece and placing it in between the ties under the cars. My kids were very jealous, they don't think I make their cakes as fun. I guess I need to pull out some old scrapbooks books to show them they were not left out of the creative cakes. Let's see...a pirates chest, Mcqueen car, blues clues, dora, incredibles, strawberry shortcake hat, spiderman, superman and those are the ones I can remember off the top of my head. Poor kids, not a single fun cake in the bunch! If you can't tell I'm being very sarcastic right now:)

Ok so here is my first try at fondant. A lady from Jason's work had been looking for a cake for her niece for a graduation party. They had a terrible time trying to find someone who could do something for them. She asked me earlier this week and this is what it turned out like. They were very happy with it and I was pleased I didn't screw it up. I've never done fondant so I was a bit worried about getting it a true black and how to pull off a grad cap. I think it turned out pretty good for a first timer. The one lady said it looked better than the cakes they saw at walmart and a cake decorator in Jonesboro that were similar but with butter cream icing. Maybe this will be my new business. Fondant is expensive so these cakes don't come cheap;) I have another cake I'm doing for another lady next week. She wants a candy train (I'd done one for an fundraiser auction a few years ago.) The traincars are cake and then topped with candy, animal crackers, licorice tracks and more. I may just try the fondant on this one too:)

Note to all: three of my kids are sick today with fevers, Sarah was so sick last night I stayed up with her trying to bring down her fever. She'd had two different meds and it was still 104.9, Needless to say, it wasn't a good night. She had a blessing and after an hour working to cool her down she was finally at 102 so I put her back in bed and went to sleep myself. Of course I had to redose everyone four hours later so I didn't get much sleep, but Colton watched them while I slept on the couch this morning. Jason and Whitney went to church, had to pick up two separate riders so he had to leave by 7:45 this morning. I guess we are in for a wonderful day.

Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I know so many mother's that I hope they all have had a wonderful weekend. I can't tell you what a great week it has been, aside from all the work making mint choco & choc peanut butter suckers for our ward ladies. I had a wonderful weekend. I did prep work and it paid off;) I've been talking to Jason all week about all the wonderful things he could do that didn't cost anything since I was getting to go see a musical production of Fiddler on the Roof in Memphis and then Wicked in July. I reminded him how it would set things up for how his father's day would run:) Prep work paid off and I enjoyed going out to dinner with him on Friday night followed by breakfast in bed Sat. Then after I got home from the musical he helped get babies to bed and had cleaned up through the house. Sunday morning made muffins for breakfast and when we got home from church he sent me to take a nap!!! He prepared most of dinner - including washing and slicing potatoes to fry and cutting strawberries to go with the cake he made. What a great man. I've always felt that I got the best deal when I married him. He is one of the most thoughtful people I know and does a great job trying to help me around the house and with the kids. He helps me want to be a better person. NOTE to husbands: the best gift your wife would love are those simple acts of kindness that ease her load around the house and with the kids:)

I know my mom wont read this (she doesn't get on the computer much), But I want you all to know what an incredible person she is. I love her very much. There is much of my growing up years that I didn't really know her. Raising a large family took it's toll on her. She is amazing and I look at her today an see a woman of faith, love and hope. She had difficult times and she perseviered she didn't always know what to do next but she always trust that Heavenly Father would open a way. She plant those seeds of faith in my heart and I thank her for that. She sacrificed much for our family. Her heart was broken when she lost her son and then though times when her children made choices that had difficult consequences. I love her because she is always seeking to do better, to learn more and to server her Father in Heaven. She is serving with my dad as an "Addiction Recovery Missionary" and has been a great blessing in those member's lives. I wish you all could know her cause she is a woman of strength.

Surprise Visit....

What a delight it was this week. Stuart and Kimber were on their way to St. Louis and Navoo from Mississippi, they invited me to meet them for lunch. I met them off the I55 in a small town - hole in the wall restuarant for lunch. (Chubby's - BBQ) What a treat it was to meet Kimber for the 1st time and their darling kids. Stuart Grange was the Young Single Adult chairman in Elko when I was quite young (immature, crazy and young). I served as the secretary to him and Tricia Dispain (now Aagard) was his co-chariman. I have to say that he be came a dear friend. He tolerated my youthfulness, crazy ideas and a few pranks (however, he had a few of his own like the time when he placed a smoker gadget on my engine that began to smoke as soon as the engine was turned on. It scared the daylights out of me and then I saw him laughing and new it was a prank. He wasn't a loud person, but also wasn't afraid to defend his territory either. Such as the time when Trish and I cupped his fence with a message and oreo'ed his front door. He could tell something was up as we saw him driving down the dirt lane to his trailer and we tried to gun it out of the cove where his trailer rested. We were not fast enough and he blocked us in. He at least made dinner for us. We tortured him with loud songs, messing with his dryer while his clothes were going but he wouldn't move his truck. Needless to say at some point he asked us if we were going to go home. We made a sarcastic comment about him not moving the truck, when we looked out the window the truck was gone. He had his roomate or somehow moved the truck without us knowing. I don't know how long it had been moved. He was a character.)
Like I said Stuart was a great friend. I appreciated his support while I served my mission. He would send letters every once in a while updating me on the YA scene at home. Every once in a while he threw in a $20. Heaven bless him for that. It usually showed up near the end of the month when I was scrimping by. I can't tell you what a blessing it was when it came. The greatest letter I got was when he told me he was going to the temple. I didn't even know he was preparing to go. It was the greatest news. Overall I think Stuart is a great guy. The last time I saw him was a trip he took to Washington DC with his sister. We lived outside Philly and I set him up on a blind date. Jason and I went down to meet them for dinner. It was so fun to see him. I was really sad the LDS girl I sat him up with wasn't dress temple worthy and I felt bad. After that trip though, we got news that he got married. Something about lost luggage and a great girl who worked for Delta who helped him find it:) I was shocked and elated how fast he was married. She must have been wonderful girl who won his heart and finally got him hitched;)

It was such fun meeting their family and I enjoyed every minute of it. They have 3 young kids who are just adorable. Thanks Stuart and Kimber for stopping to see me and for treating me to lunch, you didn't have to do that, I'm not surprised though, that is just how Stuart is (he went and paid before I realized the check had been placed on the table.) It made my day to see them!

WOW!

Ok, so I wanted you to see how fun the Creative Memories program is that I used to fix these photos. I used it to take out some unwanted folks. You be the judge....what do you think? I thought it turned out pretty good for having to take out someone's big rearend:)